Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-03-01
vYoIseIey anA GeE,. Zee.
London dispatch to the New Yorl, World. ]
=. L.. Ill. L L..

ESoESesey ANA Gen. Zee
London dispatch TO the New York World.
The leading article in MucmiIIan's Mage
ziae for March is by Gen. Lord Wo!seley on
Gen. Lee. Cen. Lee is given full credit for
the love he bad for the Union and for the
struggle he vent through before finally TAX
ing the decision to go with his own State.
Gen. Wolseley describes how Lee accepted
his commission IS Commander.in.C Chief of
aB Inc military forces of Virginia in a
crowded convention of the most eminent
men Of the State, and then draws 2 parallel
between him and the g:eat Marlborough:
"GeG. Lee's Dresanca commanded respect,
even from strangers, by cain, self-poasess-
ed dignity, the like Of ahiGi | have n5Ver
seen in other men Naturally ofstrong pas.
sona ne kept them under perfect control by
that iron and determined will of which his
expression and his face gave evidence. As
| this tall. handsome soldier stood before bis
couutrymeu ha was the picture OF the ideal
netriot. Unconscious and self possessed in
! his strength, ne INDUCED iE no theatrical
display of feeling. There was III his face
aud about him that placid resolve which be-
| spoke great confidence in self, and which
| in mis- ease one knows net ho@ quickly
communicated It's magnetic influence 10
olhers. lie was then just fiy-iour years
old. the age OF Marlborough when he de-
stroyed the French army at Benheim. In
nany wavs and on mOag points these two
area; men much resembed each other.
, Both yere ofG digniGed and commanding
exterior, emiuently handsome, with figure
tall. graceful and erect, while muscular.
square-bnjl irsuo bespoke Great activity
of- boGV. rno charGi cf manner
which / have mentioned rs very winning
| in Lee. was possessed in the highest degree
bv MarlbogcUgh Both, as the outset Of
| their great career OF victory, we,e regarded
as essentially national commanders. Both
had married young anG were faithful hu5-
bands and devoted fathers Beth haG IN all
their oampaigus TIE same belief in IN ever
yatchfli Providencs, ii whose help they
trusted imp iciily and for whose iuterposi-
ton thev prayed at sll times They were
gifted with the came military instinct, the
sane genius for war, The poweC u iasclnat-
ing those with whom they were associated,
the spell which they cast over their soldiers
who believed almost anperstitiouss3 IN their
certainty OF victory, Their contempt OF
danger and their daring courage constitute
o parallel that il difficult TO equal between
any ether two great uen Of modern times.'
Reference IS made a. to how Gen. Leo or
canized an army Of $4,000 men in two
months. and as.to ho0 in another month he
had gained a great victory a. Bull Kun, ana
had driven the Northera invaders back
across the Potomac like herds of frightened
sheen. his army being supplied with ammn
milton. army stores and clothing captured
there.
afterwards. when Geu Pope and his large
invading army had been sent bnck flying
across the Malviand border I overheard this
conversation between two Confederate SOL
diers Have you heard the news Lee
has resigned 7 GOOD God! was the reply,
what for? lie has resigned because be
SAYS he cannot feed and supply his army
anv longer. now that his Commissary-Gen-
eral. pope, has been removed Mr. Lin
coin bad just then dismissed Cen Pope, re-
placing him by Gen. Mcclellan"
Gen WolssIey incidentally expresses an
oDinion. when speaking OF Bull Run, that
the Confedefatos did not follow up their
yctorp the.c rs they shonsd have done. 4
rani6 s.i d0liag advance would have given
them PCS ssion II Washington, their en
en- eap.i.a. Poii,ieai considerations at
Ricfa..nG were allowed TO outweigh The
yea esi.s., l1i'is,:} ezrediency OF reapipg
I'd a6vasi0ge from tbs their first great
saleaz4 Fhjs sue2es.a the ge9erai Criticism
witch tolo:ss: "NThGt most strikes tnc
regular solsiIs! il tness campaigns OF Gen.
Ise is thC inefficient uGIsar IN "hlcu nosn
he and MS opponents were often served by
their subordinate commanders and how
badly the staff and outpost work generally
was performed on both sides. 1t is mcst
difficult to move with any effective prec-
sion Young armies constituted as these were
Iduripg this war The direction and move
ment of large bodies OF newly raised troops,
avec when victorious, are never easy and
often imnossible Over and over again was
the South apparently withina stones throw
of findependence, as ii has been many times
remarked. when from want Of thoroughly
oooG staff to organize the pursuit the occa-
siou vas lost aDG the enemy allowed TO es
cape. Lees combinations to secure victory
were the conceptions OF truly great
strategist, and when they had been effected
his tactics were aiso almost always every
thing that could be desired up to the mo-
ment OF victory. But there his action
seemed TO stop altogether. Was ever an
army so hope!essly ct the mercy oi
another as that Of Mcclellan when az
began bis retreat to Harrison's Land
ing sitter the seven. days fighting round.
Richmond? What commander could WISE
to have his foe u tighter place than burn'
side was in after his disastrous attack upon
J Lee at Fredericksburg Yet in both in
stances the Northern commander got safely
away; and other similar Instance could bf
mentioned. The critical military student
Of this war who Knows the power which reg